Tile constructions and mortarless mounting thereof



Feb. 10, 1959 N. T. BALDANZA 2,872,804

TILE CONSTRUCTIONS AND MORTARLESS MOUNTING THEREOF Filed Sept. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NICHOLAS T flaw/1 ATTO'P/VAUG 1959 N. T. BALDANZA 2,872,804

TILE CONSTRUCTIONS AND MORTARLESS MOUNTING THEREOF Filed Sept. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E/ E :i E A "nun.

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INVENTOR.

MCKIOMJ T 5440402,?

United States TILE CONSTRUCTI'QNS AND MORTARLESS MOUNTING THEREOF Nicholas T. Baldanza, Rutherford, N. J.

Application September 17, 1956, Serial No. 610,244

7 Claims. (Cl. 72-19) This invention relates to tile constructions and more particularly is directed to improved wall and ceiling surfacing tile units of semi-rigid resilient material incorporating motarless and adhesiveless mounting means.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve tile units of the character described for forming wall and ceiling surfacing constructions which shall be simple in form yet attractive in appearance, which shall form lightweight yet firm and rugged wall and ceiling surfacing means, which tile units shall be cheap to manufacture and incorporate in new and old buildings alike, which shall permit ready .installation of finished tiled surfaces on walls and ceilings requiring a minimum of skill, which shall eliminate mortars, mastics or adhesives in installation, which shall form appealing interior decoration that can be readily cleaned, which shall provide stainproof finished surfaces and which shall be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

' In the accompanying drawing in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a wall surface construction formed of an assembly of semi-rigid resilient tile units embodying the invention, a portion of the tile surface being broken away to show the supporting perforated fibreboard structure.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are front, rear, side and bottom edge views, respectively, of the improved tile unit embodying the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views taken on lines 5-5 and 6-6 in Fig. 1, respectively, showing details of the mounting of the tile units to the supporting perforated fibreboard structure, the broken line position of portions of the tile surface covering area and the barbed pegs illustrating a step in the installation of tile units.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken similar to Fig. 5 but showing a portion of a single tile with its barbed pegs in alignment with the uniformly spaced holes in the supporting fibreboard prior to mountmg.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fregmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 7 but with one of the barbed pegs passing through one of the holes in the supporting fibreboard showing deflection of the barb.

Figs. 9 and 10 are rear and bottom edge views, respectively, of a semi-rigid resilient tile unit of modified and elongated form embodying the invention.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but utilizing the modified form of tile shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of an elongated form of tile 'c 2,872,804 1 Patented Feb. 10, 1959 embodying the invention having the ribs and pegs in a modified arrangement.

Fig. 13 is a top edge view of the tile shown in Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken similar to Figs. 5 and 11 but showing a modified form of barbed peg.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 20 denotes a wall or ceiling surface construction embodying the invention formed of an assembly of tile units 22 having tile mounting means integrally formed therewith, such as, barbed pegs 23 for snap-in engagement with holes 21a of an underlying supporting board 21.

Supporting board 21, as shown in Fig. 1, may be of any suitable material, such as, sheet metal, fibreboard and the like, formed with holes 21a uniformly spaced from each other in parallel rows. A perforated fibreboard of the type sold commercially in panels under the trademark Masonite Peg-Board may serve as supporting board 21 to give practical and etiicient results. When utilizing such fibreboard panels in practicing the invention, the latter may be mounted in any manner well known in the art to form a base wall surface allowing sufficient clearance behind the spaced holes 21a for receiving the barbed pegs 23, as for example, by mounting the panels, properly spaced from any rear side obstruction of said holes 21a, on studs (not shown) forming the wall skeleton structure in the construction of new buildings or on suitably spaced furring strips (not shown), for example, when used on existing wall structure in renovating old buildings.

Tiles 22 may be molded of suitable material, such as, polyethylene, vinyls, rubber, synthetic rubber and styrene alloys, having required semi-rigid resilient properties, more fully hereinafter described, and which provide exposed surfaces thereof in decorative colors and desirable finishes requiring no paint or other covering, which surfaces may be readily cleaned and are stainproof to a high degree.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, tile 22 may be generally of rectangular shape having an effective square surface covering face 22a which may be bordered by a beveled or, as shown, a rounded edge 22b on the front side thereof. Extending about two adjacent sides of tile 22 beyond edge 22b there may be provided integral flanges 24 each having an elongated seat 24a defined by an edge bead 24b. The remaining two adjacent sides of tile 22 have edges 22b formed with rear facing surfaces 220 recessed for resting on seats 24a of flanges 24 of adjacent tiles 22 when mounted on supporting board 21. Flanges 24 may also have beveled ends 240 to facilitate interfitting of the parts in assembly.

Tiles 22 may each also be formed with spaced parallel ribs 25, the latter and said flanges 24 being of a thickness for having rib rear surfaces 25a and flange rear surfaces 24d lying in a single plane X-X to form a.

face 22c, grooves 25b being formed therebetween toprovide clearance for edge bead 24b of an adjacent tile 22 in mounting.

Barbed pegs 23 are integrally formed to extend from one or more of the rear surface sections 22d and are positioned wtih respect to the over-all area of tile 22 as required for mounting purposes. As shown in Figs. 3,

5, 6 and 7, barbed pegs 23 may be arranged in parallel rows extending across a mid-portion of top and bottom rear surface sections 220? spaced from each other for registering with holes 21a in board 21. In order to providesnap-in engagement with holes 21a, barbed pegs 23 are each formed with a stem 23a of smaller cross-sectional dimension than that of holes 21a and each have a pointed end 2317 formed by a tapering edge 23d extending forwardly into a barb 230, the tips of which all lie in a plane ZZ which is parallel to and a predetermined distance D from said plane XX. Said distance D should preferably be just a shade less than the thickness of board 21 to keep barbs 230 under tension in holding tile 22 against mounting face 21b of board 21. A depression 23c may be provided between stem 23a and barb 23c for facilitating the compression or deflection of the latter against stem 23:: in insertion thereof through hole 21a, as is clear from Fig. 8.

One of the features of the invention is to provide tile 22 with semi-rigid resilient properties in the regions of sections 22d from which barbed pegs 23 extend to enable mounting of tile 22 on supporting board 21 in the manner hereinafter described.

The utility of the invention will now be apparent.

I After providing tiles 22 with integral pegs 23 as described above and shown in the drawings, a surface is prepared on the wall or ceiling area to be tiled by suitably mounting thereon supporting board 21 with holes 21a spaced to register with pegs 23. Tiles 22 are then simply attached one by one to supporting board 21 by first aligning the barbed pegs 23 of the tile with holes 21a as shown in Fig. 7. Each of the pegs 23 are then forced into its corresponding opening, as shown in Fig. 8, and pressure exerted on tile 22 to bring rib rear surfaces 25a and flange rear surfaces 24d into position against mounting surface 21b. In order to complete the attachment of tile 22 and have barbs 23c assume the hooking or clamping position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, regions of tile sections 22d bearing each of the pegs 23 are depressed, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, a suflicient amount to permit complete ejection of barbs 230 from openings 21a and expansion thereof from their deflected or compressed condition in passing through holes 21a, as shown in Fig. 8. Upon releasing said depressed regions of sections 22d, barbs 23c will contact the rear side of supporting board 21 to clampingly retain tile 22 in mounted position and said regions will return to plane YY of face 22a.

The properties of the material forming tile 22, the thickness and area of the regions of sections 22d surrounding pegs 23 and the arrangement of flanges 24 and ribs 25 with respect to said regions all contribute to provide proper semi-rigid resiliency to permit the depression of said regions above described in mounting of tile 22 and the return and retention of said regions to plane YY.

Where required by size and shape of the tile, suitable cross ribs may be utilized in place of or in addition to the center rib 25a and additional pegs 23 may be located in any of the other sections 22d to register with holes 21a and properly spaced from the ribs and edges of the tile to provide depression regions for mounting.

A modification embodying the invention is shown in Figs. 9, and 11 as tile 32 illustrating an elongated tile construction, such as may be used in borders or in desired design configurations. Tile 32 also illustrates a construction omitting the interlocking flanges although it is to be understood that tiles of the square type exemplified by tile 22 may be constructed without interlocking flanges in a manner similar to tile 32 and vice versa.

Tile. 32 has surface covering face 32a bordered on all sides by edge 32b which terminates in a rear facing surface 320 lying in the same plane as rear surfaces 35a of transverse ribs 35, the latter dividing tile 32 into rear surface sections 32d. Surfaces 32c and 35a form a rear bearing means for mounting tile 32 in the same manner as surfaces 24d and 25a serve tile 22. One or more barbed pegs 33 are integrally formed to extend from rear surface sections 32d, barbed pegs 33 being formed similar to pegs 23 of tile 22 with stem 33a, pointed end 33b and barb 33c.

Instead of utilizing transverse ribs, such as, ribs 35, when the dimensions require, it may be desirable to utilize a variation of stiffening and bearing means. To this end, tile 42, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, is constructed similar to tile 32 except that a longitudinally extending rib 45 is provided between spaced barbed pegs 43, rib 45 having a rear surface 45a lying in the plane of rear facing surface 420 of edge 42b.

Tiles 32 and 42 are mounted on supporting board 21 in the same manner as described above for tile 22. The dimensions of tiles 22, 32 and 42 and the spacing of pegs 23, 33 and 43, respectively, thereon, will be chosen for compatibility with the spacing of holes 21a permitting identical tiles to be assembled in proper abutment relation with or without interfitting flanges 24, as shown in Figs. 5 and 11. For example, when utilizing a fibreboard for supporting board 21 having holes 21a with centers spaced one inch or one-half inch, tile 22 as shown in Fig. 3 may be a four inch square having pegs 23 spaced one inch apart and one-half inch from the edge of the tile. This arrangement will also provide a radius of approximately one-half inch for the depression regions of section 22d surrounding each peg 23.

A modified form of peg which may be utilized in place of the identical pegs 23, 33 and 43 is shown in Fig. 14 as peg 53. The latter has a stem 53a which may be wider than stern 23a and an arrowhead 53b which is split at 53d to permit compression thereof for clearance of arrowhead wide base 53c in insertion thereof through holes 21a. Said wide base 530 of arrowhead 53b will be properly spaced from rear bearing plane XX to conform to the thickness of supporting board 21 to maintain a slight tension on the mounted tile in a manner similar to barbs 23c described above.

It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to use any suitable supporting structure for mounting the tiles. Such structure may be in the form of metal, wood or fibre strips having uniformly spaced holes, which strips can be incorporated in the wall structure in any well known manner to serve as supporting board 21.

It is thus seen that there are provided tile constructions and mortarless mounting means therefor of the character described in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A tile surface construction comprising a fixedly mounted supporting structure having holes extending therethrough spaced from each other in a predetermined relation over a tile mounting surface formed by said structure, a plurality of tiles covering said mounting surface, each of said tiles having a front face and integrally formed stiffening members extending from a rear side serving as hearing means for mounting the tile against said mounting surface, said stiffening members forming a border for a plurality of sections recessed on said rear side, integrally formed pegs extending rearwardly from some of said sections into and through said holes and having means engaging a rear side of said supporting structure for mounting said tile in position on said surface, said tile being formed of material having properties imparting semi-rigid resiliency to said sections in an area surrounding each peg to permit axial movement of the peg with respect to said bearing means on application of finger pressure on the tile front face in the region opposite the peg to permit clearance by said peg means of the rear side of said supporting structure and facilitate said engagement therewith on release of said pressure.

2. The tile surface construction defined in claim 1 in which said pegs each includes a stem having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the supporting structure holes, said supporting structure rear side engaging peg means including a tapered end having a forwardly extending barb, said barb being constructed and arranged to be deflected on insertion of the peg into the hole and to engage said supporting structure rear side on said release of the finger pressure.

3. A tile for fixedly mounting on a supporting board having holes extending therethrough arranged in prede termined spaced relation over a tile mounting front surface, comprising a front face, integrally formed stiffening members extending from a rear side of the tile serving as bearing means for mounting the tile against said mounting front surface of the supporting board, said stiffening members being arranged to border a plurality of sections recessed on said rear side from said bearing means, integrally formed pegs extending rearwardly from some of said sections spaced apart from each other to register with said holes, said tile being formed of material having properties imparting semi-rigid resiliency to said sections in an area surrounding each peg to permit axial movement of the peg on application of finger pressure on the tile front face in the region opposite the peg, each of said pegs including a stem having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the supporting board holes and terminating in an end tapering from a thickened mid-portion of the stem, said mid-portion being deflectable into a compressed state to pass through the hole to engage a rear side of said supporting board, said thickened mid-portions each being spaced along the stem from the plane of said bearing means a distance just short of the thickness of the supporting board, and said semi-rigid resilient sections being recessed from said bearing means plane a distance sufficient to permit clearance of said rear side of the supporting board by said thickened mid-portions of the stems upon said axial movement of the peg on application of said finger pressure.

4. A tile for fixedly mounting on a supporting board having holes extending therethrough uniformly spaced from each other in parallel rows over a tile mounting front surface, comprising a front face, spaced apart integrally formed stiffening members extending from a rear side of the tile serving as bearing means for mounting the tile against said mounting front surface of the supporting board, said stiffening members bordering a plurality of sections recessed on said rear side from said bearing means, and integrally formed pegs extending rearwardly from some of said sections spaced apart from each other to register with said holes, said tile being formed of material having properties imparting semi-rigid resiliency to said sections in an area surrounding each peg to permit axial movement of the peg with respect to said bearing means on application of finger pressure on the tile front face in the region opposite the peg to facilitate mounting, each of said pegs including an enlarged end compressible on insertion into said holes for passage therethrough, said enlarged end being spaced from said tile rear side section a distance sufficient for completely clearing a rear side of said supporting board on said axial movement of the peg and for engaging said supporting board rear side on release of said finger pressure for securing the tile in position against said board.

5. A tile for fixedly mounting on a supporting board having holes extending therethrough uniformly spaced fiom each other in parallel rows over a tile mounting front surface, comprising a front face, spaced apart integrally formed stiffening members extending from a rear side of the tile serving as bearing means for mounting the tile against said mounting front surface of the supporting board, said stiffening members bordering a plurality of sections recessed on said rear side from said bearing means, and integrally formed pegs extending rearwardly from some of said sections spaced apart from each other to register with said holes, said tile being formed of material having properties imparting semi-rigid resiliency to said sections in an area surrounding each peg to permit axial movement of the peg with respect to said bearing means on application of finger pressure on the tile front face in the region opposite the peg to facilitate mounting, each of said pegs having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the supporting board holes and terminating in a tapered end having a forwardly extending barb, said barb being sized and shaped to increase the overall cross-section of the peg to exceed said cross-sectional area of the supporting board holes, said barb being constructed and arranged to be deflected on insertion of the peg into one of said holes in the supporting board for passage therethrough on application of said finger pressure on the tile front face and to engage a rear side of said supporting board on release of said finger pressure securing the tile in position against said board.

6. A tile for fixedly mounting on a supporting board having holes extending therethrough uniformly spaced from each other in parallel rows over a tile mounting front surface, comprising a front face, spaced apart integrally formed stiffening members extending from a rear side of the tile serving as bearing means for mounting the tile against said mounting front surface of the supporting board, said stiffening members bordering a plurality of sections recessed on said rear side from said bearing means, and integrally formed pegs extending rearwardly from some of said sections spaced apart from each other to register with said holes, said tile being formed of material having properties imparting semi-rigid resiliency to said sections in an area surrounding each peg to permit axial movement of the peg with respect to said bearing means on application of finger pressure on the tile front face in the region opposite the peg to facilitate mounting, each of said pegs having a stem of cross-sectional area smaller than that of said supporting board holes and an enlarged end in the form of an arrowhead having a base wider than the diameter of said holes, said arrow being split axially to permit compression thereof for clearance of the base on insertion of the peg into the holes, said base being spaced from said tile rear side section a distance sufiicient for completely clearing a rear side of said supporting board on said axial movement of the peg and for engaging said supporting board rear side on release of said finger pressure for securing the tile in position against said board.

7. The tile surface construction defined in claim 1 in which said pegs each includes a stern having a cross-sectional area smaller that that of the supporting structure holes, said supporting structure rear side engaging peg means including an arrowhead having a base wider than the diameter of said holes, said arrowhead being split axially to permit compression thereof for clearance of the base on insertion of the peg in the holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,433 Worden Oct. 31, 1933 2,135,118 Stewart Nov. 1, 1938 2,151,447 Stanley Mar. 21, 1939 2,323,417 Pauli July 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 508,379 Belgium of 1952 

